we could do that and it would not help the medicare fiscal cliff. >> reporter: with time running out, hopes have diminished with talk of a smaller deal extending bush tax rates for the middle school and unemployment benefits. it puts off major spending cuts and reforms to entitlements like healthcare. >> we're going to end up with a small, kick-the-can, down-the- road bill to make another fiscal cliff to deal with this fiscal cliff. >> reporter: with expectation low, lawmakers are talk about how to retroactively fix any damage done by going over the cliff with congress. nicole collins, fox news. >>> developing tonight, a strike that could have shut down ports up and down the east coast is averted for now. the long shoreman's union along the east coast and gulf of mexico will extend the current contract for 30 days. that extension prevents a possible strike that could have crippled operations at port and including the port of baltimore. in a statement today, the maryland governor martin o'malley wrote, quote, the port of baltimore continues to be a major part of the state economic stra